Knitting nurses to create mile-long floral chain to celebrate Brighton Pride

Batsi Muteweye, practice educator; Liz Johnson, practice education facilitator; Claire Martin, head of nursing and midwifery education; Julie Hussey, acute and specialty PA; Trish Leahy, practice development nurse.

The knitters and crochet makers from Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust (BSUH) aim to produce 1,967 metres of floral chain for the Pride event, which this year marks 50 years since homosexuality was decriminalised.

At the Pride procession through Brighton and Hove, more than 30 staff will be on the float and 75 will be taking part in the parade. The Trust will also have a stall at Brighton Pride, which takes place from August 4 to 6, and at Trans Pride on July 21 to 23.

Rev Canon Peter Wells, lead chaplain of BSUH, said: “The message is we are a proudly diverse workforce. We want to be welcoming to our staff, patients and visitors, to show we strongly support our local community, and to let people know that BSUH is a good place to work.

“There’s also the fun side too. When you’re working in a hospital environment which can be stressful at times, a strong network of friendships and professional relationships is invaluable. I’m sure Pride will help us to build and strengthen that further.”